Loon, Whiteface and some other adventures

“isn’t this what it’s all about? The pursuit of happiness…not the race as such, that’s just an excuse to get together…it seems to me that what’s important is the shared experience…for better or for worse this is an incredible moment.”- 

Joe Grant- Ultra Runner

Had a great time running at the Loon mountain race July 3rd...but it was everything but a race for me!  As my running and racing evolves with work, marriage and life, I target different events for different reasons- Unless you are Sage Canaday or Kilian Jornet, your running serves a lot of purposes in life, but it probably doesn't earn you a pay check- So for me, I had a few reasons (and goals) for competing in the Loon mountain race:
1) Test my legs with a race effort (including scouting some of the following weekends Whiteface Sky Run competition)
2) Compete in a National Champs (how can you not when its in your home state)!
3) Do a race that wasn't so long that I couldn't do other things with my wife that day
4) Introduce my friend Dan and his fiance Savannagh to some MUT running and give them a fun day away from Mass in the Whites
5) Pass out some Team AMP shirts!
So I got to the race late, but other than taking the full 7 miles to get into race mode- I had a blast and accomplished all the goals for the day!  It is so exciting to be able to create a trail running/adventure team for people to be a part of in the northern regions of NH and VT and I am excited to see where this takes us as a collective group...
Now to Whiteface...sorry for the lack of pictures (due to the nasty rain adn thunder) but I will attempt to capture one of my best races EVER!
  I have always said my "A" race would be a little longer and a little more techy than most races out there (think Wapack/Escarpment, etc) well finally a technical mountain race in the East (Whiteface Sky Run)!  I had done the Cayuga 50 a few years back and I knew Ian Golden would put on an awesome event...plus, for the second week in a row I would have a chance to compete with some folks I've only seen in magazines!
  I did not position myself well at the start, but that didn't matter too much as we were headed up for the next 3.3M...straight up!  I passed a few folks and settled in, probably around 15th place or so.  I quickly realized I was running right next to Kasie Enman, World Skyrunning champ and all around VT mountain goat-  Chad always told me, if you could keep up with the lead female in a big race, you were doing pretty darn well!  So I introduced myself, started to put my hands on my knees and climb into the misty unknown.  After over 45minutes we hit the summit and after a brief swig of some tailwind I was off to start the long downhill-  I was able to catch one male and pull back in front of Kasie as we entered the start finish for our second "rolling loop"- I grabbed a quick sugar check with my lovely wife and proceeded out onto loop two with Kasie.
  I peered down at my watch and realized I was running 6:20 pace (faster than my half marathon PR) and decided to ease into this loop...after all it was characterized as a "recovery loop". After a few miles it started to climb and really twist and turn, after a quick fall on a wet bridge, I decided to hang with Kasie and see if I couldn't keep up with her and sae some for the last loop-  She commented these trails were a lot like her home trails and VT- I thought they were very similar to the STAB trails right under Ascutney, so I think we were both at home setting a good pace with no folks in sight.  Then, at about mile 14 I decided to see what I could do and upon picking up the pace I finally surged enough to make contact with the next male runner ahead of me-  It was Jason Lantz, past winner of the VT 100 and and all-around awesome dude!
  We shared a few miles before taking a wrong turn before ending loop two- needless to say, neither of us were very happy and all that effort was erased as we went from battling for 9th to 14th and 15th, with two women and three men passing us...part of me was upset, but I quickly regained focus (remembering it even happens to the best ala Jim Walmsley) and all we could do was keep trudging.
  After another quick check with Jac, I grabbed a gel and started my second and last loop on the major climb.  Jason climbed really well for a guy who lives in a relatively flat area and we quickly caught one guy in front of us.  About halfway up the climb Jason increased his pace and left me to try to keep him in sight.  Needless to say, I wouldn't see him again and although I was tired, the rain kept me cool and my Blood sugars were holding fast-  At the summit I grabbed some coke, thanked the volunteers and started to descend one last time, hoping I could reel in somebody!
  Man was that descent slick!  My new Salming Elements shoes did great, but on the second lap of an already wet and steep track, there was not much left for a runner to cling to-  I ran the first part (including a brief 200ft roller climb) well and tried hard to speed up- unfortunately due to the conditions, it was really hard to stay upright, much less increase speed.  I wouldn't see another racer until the finish where I cruisied in, tired and sore- 14th overall, 12th Male- 3:24 over 8k climbing and descending- 16M- 3rd New Englander and a very happy runner indeed!  (1st diabetic lol)
  As always, I have to thank my loving wife for her support, Love and help in making me a successful athlete dspite my diabetes- Also, thank you to my new shoe sponsor Salming for an awesome pair of shoes that handled everything the mountain tried to throw at them and Pearl Izumi, who helped us get some awesome Team AMP jerseys out there!  And finally, thank you to Dexcom, for creating a devise that allows me to keep track of my blood sugars all day and give me the best possible chance at competing well!

  I have been busy with other projects since Whiteface, with some race planning (Winter Wild, wahoo!), working on offering a coaching service, and working for Lebanon recreation- But I am also excited (Personally) for a few more races this summer, namely the Wapack fall race, Lost-a-Whole-Lot in Lebanon and an FKT attempt on the Sunapee-to-Monadnock trail (more to come on that last one soon) :)
  I Hope everyone is having as much fun outdoors this summer as I am and I encourage you to connect with me on any of the stuff I write about (local races and events, coaching, diabetes management, etc.) because I would Love to help out and am truly blessed to have been able to overcome adversity to do these things we all Love!
Happy trails and safe adventures to all!  Don't forget to get out and Explore4Chad!
#RunSwedish #Dexcomwarrior #WNHTRS #TeamAMP

(me handing Eric his award at Frenzy in the Forest :)

Blessed, Stoaked & Awed

Well after trading in the Race Director hat at the end of March, my personal running endeavors have been superb-  If I had to use three describing words to describe the spring and fall I would go with Blessed, Stoaked, and Awed-
Blessed because I am so lucky to be able to do what I do- Thankful for the opportunities to race and train, the ability to put together a strong training plan and to manage my diabetes with some amazing tools-  This Spring I was able to race very focused, score a couple PR's and really work on some weaknesses to become a better well rounded runner-
Great Bay Half Marathon- 9th overall; 1:25:29- Spent a lot of time alone and kept a steady pace- Happy with this result.
TARC 50k- 3rd overall; 4:19:53- Hung with eventual winner for first four laps and then lost him on the last lap, eventually settling for 3rd- High BG numbers lead to a lack of fueling which eventually caught up with me, but confidence building day and Great to have Eric there in the Half marathon
, plus Jacqui and Ashlee giving GREAT support- Good to see friends old and new!!
Pineland 50k- 5th overall; 3:58:01- Couldn't have been happier with my result and 50k PR (by 11 minutes)- Sometimes other runners are just faster!  Stayed strong and smooth and had a fun weekend, again with Jacqui and Eric!
WNHTRS #1-Six in the Stix- 4th overall- 3rd AG
WNHTRS #2- Five and Dime- 2nd overall- 1st AG

  So after some faster, more tame courses to start the season, I am excited to head to the bigger hills and gnarlier trails now!  First off are back-to-back mountain races, with the Loon Mountain running National Champs July 3rd, followed by the whiteface SkyRace in Lake Placid the following week- Time to climb!  For the latter part of the summer I will focus on having fun as a racer or participant at the local Western NH trail series and finally end the season with two awesome adventures: The Wapack fall race, 18Miles of some of the best and toughest single-track in New England, followed by an attempt at an FKT on the Sunapee to Monadnock trail, something that has long been on my mind-  Adam Wilcox has set a stout time to beat of 9:18, but with a good day and a little luck, it may be possible top that mark-  Even with a full crew, a couple pacers and a little party at the end, it will still cost less than traveling to a 50miler (plus we have a wedding Vermont 50 weekend) but maybe we can still catch the event as volunteers...it has been a Blessed running season indeed!
  Whew!  Stoaked and Awed are the two other words I can use to describe the running season and the venture and continuation of work that is Winter Wild and Team AMP- Stoaked was, of course, Chad's Xterra event and ongoing trail run, the spelling of which was a play on the fact that the event is held at "OAK hill".  So I am Stoaked to be able to run Winter Wild and Team AMP (with a capital "Oak") and am so excited about all the possibilities and direction's this project can go in.  We are working on a website, a blog, building a race/adventure team and continuing the legacy of unique and awesome events in this region that challenge body and soul...while Inspiring a lifestyle of Active Living.
  Finally I am continually Awed.  Mostly due to the kindness, excitement and joy that the simple active of collaborating on projects, planning events, and dreaming up adventures has brought to me, my wife and the community we live in.  I am awed by the local Recreation departments and friends in the outdoor industry who are willing to give you a boost to get over a hurdle and the gear support to take things to a new level!  I especially want to thank Lebanon Recreation, friends like PJ Lovely (Newport Rec.), Craig Fraley (Amherst Recreation), Jack Pilla (Pearl Izumi) and Rob W. (Omer and Bobs) and anyone I may have forgotten; and companies like Darn Tough, Icebug footwear, Kahtoola, Pearl Izumi and finally, my personal sponsor for the 2016, Salming Footwear.  I am in Awe that we can collaborate on all these projects working together to make for healthier communities and more creative outdoor adventures...Its a special opportunity we have been given, from a special man who had great vision for adventure and fun- it is an honor to be a part of this movement... see you out on the mountains and trails! #Explore4Chad #TeamAMP #RunSwedish #Dexcomwarrior